NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

SENATE BILL ON VOTING RIGHTS FOR THE HOMEBOUND PASSES

HIGHWOOD, Illinois – State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) passed legislation today to ensure that the right to vote is not hampered for citizens who are homebound, sick, or shut in.

Senate Bill 2314 would expand the list of people eligible for a personally delivered ballot. Under current law, people who are unable to travel to their polling place to vote because they have been admitted to a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility within five days of an election are eligible for a personally delivered ballot. Current law does not take into account the possibility of people who meet the admission requirement but have been released from the facility before or on the day of the election, and yet are homebound due to their illness or injury.

Senate Bill 2314 would add people meeting this additional criterion to the list of people eligible for a personally delivered ballot.

"Temporary circumstances such as illness or injury should never deny anyone the right to vote," said Senator Garrett, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate's State Government and Veterans Affairs committee. "We heard from constituents who, because of a homebound illness, were prevented from participating in the voting process. This measure ensures that even those who cannot get to the polls still have an opportunity to cast their vote."